Flip type mobile telephone

Abstract

A flip type mobile telephone is provided with a flip cover attached thereto. The flip type mobile telephone comprises a telephone body provided with a keypad and a hinge shaft provided at an end of the telephone body. A flip cover is hingedly connected to the telephone body through hinge caps inserted onto the hinge shaft. The flip cover covers or exposes the keypad when respectively opened and closed. At least one electromagnet is provided at one side of the telephone body which applies an electromagnetic force toward the flip cover. At least one permanent magnet is provided at a side of the flip cover adjacent to the permanent magnet when the flip cover is closed. The permanent magnet allows opening of the flip cover by applying a magnetic force having a polarity opposite to that of the electromagnet when the electromagnet is energized. Accordingly, the flip cover can be opened by means of the repulsive magnetic force produced between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet when the electromagnet is actuated. The electromagnet can be momentarily energized by pressing the mobile telephone's on/off switch when turning the telephone on for use. Thus, the mobile telephone's keypad is conveniently exposed when the mobile telephone is activated for use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flip type mobile telephone, comprising: 
 a telephone body provided with a keypad;    a hinge shaft provided at an end of the telephone body;    a spring disposed within the telephone body and configured to elastically support the hinge;    a flip cover hingedly connected to the telephone body through a plurality of hinge caps inserted onto the hinge shaft, wherein said flip cover is configured to pivot on said hinge shaft, thereby exposing the keypad;    at least one electromagnet provided at one side of the telephone body and configured to apply an electromagnetic force toward the flip cover; and    at least one permanent magnet provided at one side of the flip cover and proximate to the electromagnet when the flip cover is in the closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said electromagnet and said permanent magnet are configured to repel one another when said electromagnet is energized.  
     
     
         3 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch configured to momentarily energize said electromagnet when said mobile telephone is activated.  
     
     
         4 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said telephone body, and a corresponding plurality of permanent magnets disposed on said flip cover, wherein each permanent magnet is located on said flip cover adjacent to a respective electromagnet when said flip cover is in a closed position.  
     
     
         5 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 4 , further comprising a switch configured to momentarily energize said plurality of electromagnets when said mobile telephone is activated.  
     
     
         6 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a leaf spring.  
     
     
         7 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         8 . A flip type mobile telephone, comprising: 
 a telephone body with a keypad;    a hinge shaft rotatably attached to said telephone body;    a flip cover attached to said hinge shaft and configured to cover said keypad in a closed position and expose said keypad in an open position;    an elastic member configured to bear on said hinge shaft, wherein said elastic member urges said flip cover to an open position when said hinge shaft is rotated past a certain angle;    at least one electromagnet disposed on said telephone body;    at least one permanent magnet disposed on said flip cover, wherein said permanent magnet is configured to be repelled by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized; and    a switch configured to energize said electromagnet.    
     
     
         9 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , wherein said electromagnet and said permanent magnet cooperate to push said flip cover past said certain angle when said electromagnet is energized.  
     
     
         10 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said telephone body and a corresponding plurality of permanent magnets disposed on said flip cover such that each said permanent magnet is repelled by a respective electromagnet when said plurality of electromagnets are energized.  
     
     
         11 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , wherein said switch comprises a momentary switch.  
     
     
         12 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , wherein said switch is configured to activate said mobile telephone and simultaneously momentarily energize said electromagnet.  
     
     
         13 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , wherein said elastic member is a leaf spring.  
     
     
         14 . The flip type mobile telephone of  claim 8 , wherein said elastic member is a coil spring.  
     
     
         15 . A method of opening a flip cover on a mobile telephone, comprising: 
 rotatably attaching a flip cover to a telephone body with a hinge;    holding said flip cover in a closed position with an elastic member bearing on said hinge;    urging said flip cover into an open position when said flip cover is rotated past a certain angle; and    rotating said flip cover from said closed position past said certain angle by energizing an electromagnet.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein urging said flip cover into an open position comprises applying a force on said flip cover with said elastic member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein energizing an electromagnet comprises momentarily energizing said electromagnet.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein energizing an electromagnet comprises simultaneously activating a mobile telephone.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating said flip cover from said closed position comprises applying a magnetic force upon a permanent magnet disposed upon said flip cover.  
     
     
         20 . A flip type mobile telephone, comprising: 
 a telephone body with a keypad;    a flip cover elastically rotatably attached to said telephone body and configured to cover said keypad in a closed position and expose said keypad in an open position;    at least one electromagnet disposed on said telephone body;    at least one permanent magnet disposed on said flip cover, wherein said permanent magnet is configured to be repelled by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized; and    a switch configured to energize said electromagnet, wherein the repulsion force between the at least one electromagnet and the at least one permanent magnet facilitates the opening of the flip cover.